Urgent Actions

PBI-Honduras concerned by arbitrary detention of CNTC El Progreso general secretary Lilian Borjas

Photo: Lilian Borjas. PBI-Honduras has posted: “From PBI, we show concern about the arrest of Lilian Borjas, general secretary of the CNTC in El Progreso. We recommend that the international community speak out in solidarity with her. At PBI, we are very aware of your safety and well-being.”     Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Alert: Death Threats Against Colombian Human Rights Lawyer Germán Romero

Article by Yannick Wild, Advocacy Coordinator, Peace Brigades International-Switzerland. UN Human Rights Experts[1] sent a letter to the government of Colombia, expressing their concerns about the death threats and acts of intimidation committed against the lawyer and human rights defender Mr. Germán Romero Sánchez, a member of the Network of Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

UN Special Rapporteur says Canada should cease construction of Coastal GasLink pipeline, halt the criminalization of Indigenous human rights defenders

Video still: Cali Tzay visited Canada from March 1-10 this year. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, José Francisco Calí Tzay, has released his report on his Visit to Canada. On page 13 of that report, he writes: In Canada, Indigenous Peoples are taking up Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Canada conversation with Maya Q’eqchi’ frontline journalist Carlos Ernesto Choc

On August 18, Maya Q’eqchi’ journalist Carlos Ernesto Choc spoke with PBI-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson about the criminalization he is experiencing, his commitment to frontline journalism, and the current political situation in Guatemala. Ninety-nine people from around the world registered for this webinar, with viewers in the United States, the Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS and FEDEPESAN at meetings with Canadian Embassy in Barrancabermeja

On August 16, PBI-Colombia posted: “In the village of Campo Gala #Barrancabermeja accompanying @Credhos_Paz [the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights] and @CanadayColombia [the Canadian Embassy in Colombia] at a meeting with #Fedepesan [the Federation of Artisanal Fishermen of Santander] and #LosCogollos to talk about the effects that Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Colombia accompanies COSPACC and BHRRC in Casanare to receive testimonies about impacts of oil companies

On August 16, PBI-Colombia posted: “We accompany @CospaccOficial [Social Corporation for Community Advice and Training] and @CIEDHes [Information Center on Business and Human Rights/BHRRC] in #Casanare listening to testimonies from those who experience environmental impacts caused by oil companies. Testimonies to record a documentary on the environmental and social effects Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

RCMP C-IRG conduct raid on Pacheedaht territory despite systemic investigation, calls for this unit to be suspended

Still from video by Brandi Morin. We draw the attention of the international community to the raid by the controversial Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) on Pacheedaht territory in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Here are key reports from Ricochet Media, Ethan Cox and Brandi Morin: 1:12 Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

RCMP delays in providing documents on the C-IRG for systemic investigation being conducted by federal watchdog

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks says the C-IRG must be abolished. Video still: Chief Na’Moks speaks on a PBI-Canada webinar, February 21, 2023. The federal Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) watchdog agency launched a systemic investigation into the activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Former PBI-Guatemala field volunteer testifies at trial on the arbitrary detention by police of journalist Norma Sancir at Indigenous protest

Photo: Katharina Ochsendorf testified via videoconference from the Guatemalan consulate in Germany. Photo by Prensa Comunitaria/ Simón Antonio. Norma Sancir is a Maya Kaqchikel journalist, social communicator and human rights defender of the Ch’orti ’people in Chiquimula, Guatemala. She was arrested on September 18, 2014, by the National Civil Police Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago